VISHAKHAPATNAM: Waltair Division of East Coast Railway inaugurated an all women crew special train on March 8. The train was inaugurated from Vishakhapatnam to Rayagada. This year’s theme of International Women’s Day was ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’.
The train was flagged off by Parijata Satpathy, President, East Coast Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation. The train was driven by three women – Loco Pilot Sahana Kumari, Assistant Loco Pilot N Madhuri, and Goods Guard K Ramya. The three Ticket Checking staff were C V G Mangeswari, B Khillar, and D Radha. This was the first time that the East Coast Railway ran its first all-female crew manned passenger train.
A K Tripathi, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, commented that the Indian in railways in general, and Waltair Division in particular, have always proved its commitment to women empowerment by forming exclusive women teams for works in Loco sheds, track maintenance, train operations, goods guards, Loco pilots, ticket checking and office duties. Waltair Division has also operated an exclusive women security team ‘Meri Saheli’ which takes care of women passengers in trains or at stations.